Abstract:

There is provided an air-cooling structure fop a vehicle-mounted object
capable of taking in a sufficient amount of air. The top end of an air
suction part 36 is opened extremely near an air deflector 20 behind the
air deflector 20. With this, an air flow W4 prevented from flowing to a
vehicle compartment space 12 by the air deflector 20 is introduced to the
top end of the air suction part 36 and flows into the interior of the air
suction part 36. In this manner, the air flow W4 flowing at a speed
corresponding to the running speed of a vehicle 10 flows into the
interior of the air suction part 36, so that even though the air flow W4
is the outside air, the air flow W4 can effectively air-cool a battery 34
installed in a battery housing part 32.

Claims:

1. An air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object applied to a
vehicle that has a removable roof portion, the roof portion covering a
vehicle compartment space from above, and the vehicle has a mounted
object installation space formed in an interior of the vehicle and
located at the back of the vehicle compartment space comprising:an air
suction part having one end thereof opened behind a seat disposed along a
rear end of the vehicle compartment space and having the other end
thereof connected to the mounted object installation space such that, in
an open state in which the top of the vehicle compartment space is open
by removing the roof portion from the vehicle compartment space, air
flows from the one end to the other end through the air suction part;
andan air flow introducing unit disposed in front of the one end of the
air suction part and, in the open state, directing an air flow, which has
passed above the vehicle compartment space and is flowed forward in the
front and rear direction and downward in the upper and lower direction of
the vehicle, to the one end of the air suction part.

2. The air-cooling structure for the vehicle-mounted object of claim
1,wherein the air flow introducing unit is an air deflector that is
disposed near the seat disposed along the rear end of the vehicle
compartment space, prevents the air flow from flowing into the vehicle
compartment space, and directs the air flow to the one end of the air
suction part.

3. An air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object applied to a
vehicle that has a removable roof portion, the roof portion covering a
vehicle compartment space from above, and the vehicle has a mounted
object installation space formed in an interior of the vehicle and
located at the back of the vehicle compartment space comprising:an air
deflector being disposed near a seat disposed along a rear end of the
vehicle compartment space and preventing an air flow, which has passed
above the vehicle compartment space and is flowed forward in the front
and rear direction and downward in the upper and lower direction of the
vehicle, from flowing into the vehicle compartment space; andan air
suction part having one end thereof opened behind the air deflector, and
the other end thereof connected to the mounted object installation space,
and in an open state in which the top of the vehicle compartment space is
open by removing the roof portion from the vehicle compartment space, the
air flow prevented from flowing into the vehicle compartment space by the
air deflector can flow from the one end to the other end in the air
suction part.

4. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object of claim
3,wherein the seats are disposed such that occupants may be seated side
by side in a vehicle width direction along the rear end of the vehicle
compartment space, andthe air deflector is disposed between a left side
seating position and a right side seating position in the vehicle width
direction of the seat.

5. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
claim 1, wherein an other end side of the air suction part is provided to
incline farther forward in the front and rear direction and farther
downward in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle than a one end
side of the air suction part.

6. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
claim 1 further comprising a forced air-suction unit that is disposed
between the one end and the other end of the air suction part and is
operated to intake air via suction at the one end side and send the air
to the other end side of the air suction part.

7. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object of claim 6
further comprising:a roof detecting unit that detects whether or not the
roof portion covers the vehicle compartment space and the air suction
part from above; anda control unit that controls the forced air-suction
unit on a basis of a signal from the roof detecting unit, and the forced
air-suction unit is operated when the roof portion is mounted to cover
the vehicle compartment space.

8. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object of claim 6,
further comprising a speed detecting unit that detects a speed of the
vehicle, anda control unit that controls the forced air-suction unit on a
basis of a signal from the speed detecting unit, and the forced
air-suction unit is operated when the speed of the vehicle is smaller
than a specified value.

9. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
claim 5, further comprising foreign matter trapping channel having a top
end portion thereof open between the one end and the other end of the air
suction part, such that a foreign matter sliding down along an inclined
surface of the air suction part drops into the foreign matter trapping
channel.

10. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object of claim 9,
wherein the top end portion of the foreign matter trapping channel is
provided at the inclined surface of the air suction part and
substantially at a position where the top end portion of the foreign
matter trapping channel does not overlap a one end portion of the air
suction part in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle.

11. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
claim 1, wherein the air suction part is provided such that the one end
of the air suction part is open at a portion of the vehicle compartment
space covered by the roof portion when the roof portion is mounted.

12. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
claim 1, further comprising an air exhaust part having one end thereof
connected to the mounted object installation space and the other end
thereof open near a position where an air flow passes, the air flow
flowing along the vehicle separately from the air flow directed to the
one end of the air suction part.

13. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object of claim 10,
wherein the foreign matter trapping channel has a bottom end portion
thereof opened at a side portion or a bottom portion of a vehicle body.

14. The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object of claim 10,
wherein the foreign matter trapping channel is provided such that an
orientation thereof is substantially opposite to an orientation of the
air suction part with respect to the vehicle front and rear direction.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]The present invention relates to an air-cooling structure for an
object mounted in a rear portion of a vehicle having its roof removably
mounted, that is, a so-called "open car".

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]In a so-called "hybrid vehicle" provided with an electrically driven
motor for driving a vehicle separately from an engine, in some cases, a
battery (electric power source) for the electrically driven motor is
mounted in a trunk room of the vehicle as disclosed for example, in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (JP-A) No. 2005-88752. Moreover, in
the above document, a construction is disclosed that a cooling duct is
disposed in a rear parcel part for separating a vehicle compartment from
the trunk room. The cooling duct has its one end opened in the interior
of the vehicle compartment and has its other end connected to the trunk
room. Air sucked from one end of the cooling duct (interior of the
vehicle compartment) by a cooling fan passes through the cooling duct and
is supplied into the trunk room, and the battery is cooled by the air
supplied into the trunk room.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Subjects that the Invention is to Address

[0003]In a state where a roof is removed in the "open car" in which the
roof is removably mounted, the outside air is taken in to cool a battery
in a trunk room. However, as compared with a case where air in a vehicle
compartment is used to cool the battery in the vehicle provided with the
roof, the temperature of the outside air is higher and, especially in
summer, it is difficult to acquire an enough amount of intake of air
(amount of air) to cool the battery sufficiently.

Means for Addressing the Subjects

[0004]In consideration of the above-mentioned fact, the subject of the
invention is to provide an air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object capable of taking in a sufficient amount of air.

[0005]To address the above-mentioned subject, the first aspect of the
present invention is an air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object. The air-cooling structure is applied to a vehicle having a
removable roof portion and the roof portion covering a vehicle
compartment space from above. The vehicle has a mounted object
installation space which is formed in an interior of the vehicle and is
located at the back of the vehicle compartment space. The air-cooling
structure for the vehicle-mounted object includes an air suction part and
an air flow introducing unit. The air suction part has its one end opened
behind a seat disposed along a rear end of the vehicle compartment space
and has its other end connected to the mounted object installation space
such that air flows from the one end to the other end of the air suction
part. The air flow introducing unit is disposed in front of the one end
of the air suction part and directs an air flow, which has passed above
the vehicle compartment space and is flowed forward in the front and rear
direction and downward in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle,
to the one end of the air suction part.

[0006]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the first aspect of the invention, the one end of the air suction part
is opened behind the seat disposed along the rear end of the vehicle
compartment space, and the air flow introducing unit is disposed in front
of the one end of the air suction part. An air flow which has passed
above the vehicle compartment space and is flowed in forward and downward
of the vehicle while the vehicle is running is introduced to the one end
of the air suction part by the air introducing unit, thereby the air
flows from the one end to the other end side of the air suction part,
that is, the air flows into the mounted object installation space. The
vehicle-mounted object placed in the mounted object installation space is
air-cooled by the air flow flowing in this manner.

[0007]The air flow introduced by the air flow introducing unit flows at a
speed corresponding to a running speed of the vehicle and passes through
the air suction part. Thus, the air-cooling structure can take in a
sufficient amount of air and can air-cool the vehicle-mounted object.

[0008]The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
a second aspect of the invention is, in the first aspect of the
invention, the air flow introducing unit is an air deflector that is
provided near the seat disposed along the rear end of the vehicle
compartment space and prevents the air flow from flowing into the vehicle
compartment space, and directs the air flow to the one end of the air
suction part.

[0009]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the second aspect of the invention, while the vehicle is running, air
flow passes above the vehicle compartment space. Further, the air flow
passing above the vehicle compartment space flows so as to be flowed
forward in the vehicle front and rear direction and downward in the
vehicle upper and lower direction. The air flowing in this manner is
prevented from flowing into the vehicle compartment space by the air
deflector. Thus, it is possible to prevent a vehicle occupant' hair from
being disturbed by the air flowing into the vehicle compartment space.

[0010]Further, the air prevented from flowing into the vehicle compartment
space is directed to the one end of the air suction part by the air
deflector. With this, the air flows into the mounted object installation
space from the one end of the air suction part via the other end side
thereof. The vehicle-mounted object installed in the mounted object
installation space can be air-cooled by the air flow in this manner.

[0011]The air deflector is disposed between the vehicle compartment space
and the one end of the air suction part to prevent the air from flowing
into the vehicle compartment space and to direct the air flow to the one
end of the air suction part. Thus, the noises caused when the air flow is
sucked by the air suction part can be prevented from being transmitted to
the vehicle compartment space. As a result, silence in the vehicle
compartment space can be ensured or enhanced.

[0012]An air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to a
third aspect of the invention is applied to a vehicle that has a
removable roof portion, the roof portion covering a vehicle compartment
space from above, and the vehicle has a mounted object installation space
formed in an interior of the vehicle and located at the back of the
vehicle compartment space. The air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object includes an air suction part and an air deflector.
The air deflector is provided near a seat disposed along a rear end of
the vehicle compartment space, prevents an air from flowing into the
vehicle compartment space, and the air flow has passed above the vehicle
compartment space and is flowed forward in the front and rear direction
and downward in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle. The air
suction part has its one end opened behind the air deflector, has its
other end connected to the mounted object installation space, such that
air flows from the one end to the other end of the air suction part.

[0013]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the third aspect, while the vehicle is running, the air flow passes
above the vehicle compartment space. Further, the air flow passing above
the vehicle compartment space flows forward in the vehicle front and rear
direction and downward in the vehicle upper and lower direction. The air
flowing in this manner is prevented from flowing into the vehicle
compartment space by the air deflector.

[0014]Further, the one end of the air suction part is opened behind the
air deflector, and the air prevented from flowing into the vehicle
compartment space flows into the mounted object installation space from
the one end of the air suction part via the other end side thereof. The
vehicle-mounted object is air-cooled by the air flow flowing into the
mounted object installation space in this manner.

[0015]The air flow having its direction changed by the air deflector and
flowing into the mounted object installation space flows at a speed
corresponding to the running speed of the vehicle and passes through the
air suction part. Thus, the air-cooling structure can take in a
sufficient amount of air and air-cool the vehicle-mounted object.

[0016]The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
a forth aspect of the invention is, in the third aspect of the invention,
the seat is disposed such that occupants may be seated side by side in a
vehicle width direction along the rear end of the vehicle compartment
space, and the air deflector is disposed between a left side seating
position and a right side seating position in the vehicle width direction
of the seat.

[0017]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the forth aspect, the air deflector that prevents the air from flowing
into the vehicle compartment space and directs the air flow into the one
end of the air suction part is disposed between the left and right side
seated positions in the vehicle width direction of the seat disposed
along the rear end of the vehicle compartment space. For this reason, the
air-cooling structure can prevent or inhibit the air from flowing between
the seated positions of the left and right sides of the seat and can
inhibits the noises caused when the air flows into the air suction part
from being transmitted to occupants sat at the left and right side seated
positions of the seat.

[0018]The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
a fifth aspect of the invention in the first to fourth aspects of the
invention, an other end side of the air suction part is provided to
incline farther forward in the front and rear direction and farther
downward in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle than a one end
side of the air suction part.

[0019]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the fifth aspect of the invention, the air flow passing above the
vehicle compartment space is flowed forward in the front and rear
direction and downward in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle.
Since the other end side of the air suction part is provided to incline
farther forward in the front and rear direction and farther downward in
the upper and lower direction of the vehicle than the one end side of the
air suction part, a direction toward the other end from the one end of
the air suction part is along the direction of the air flow. With this,
the air flows smoothly from the one end side of the air suction part to
the other end side thereof, whereby the air flow flowing though the air
suction part increases.

[0020]The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
a sixth aspect of the invention, in the first to fifth aspects of the
invention, includes a forced air-suction unit that is disposed between
the one end and the other end of the air suction part and is operated to
suck air at the one end side of the air suction part, and sends the air
to the other end side of the air suction part.

[0021]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the sixth aspect of the invention, when the forced air-suction unit is
operated, air is taken in from the one end of the air suction part.
Further, the air taken in by the forced air-suction unit is sent to the
mounted object installation space via the other end of the air suction
part. With this, even when a vehicle running speed is decreased so that
the speed of the air flow decreases or the vehicle is stopped so that the
air flow is not generated, the cooling air can be supplied to the mounted
object installation space and air-cool the mounted object.

[0022]The air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
a seventh aspect of the invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention,
further includes a roof detecting unit that detects whether or not the
roof portion covers the vehicle compartment space and the air suction
part from above; and a control unit that controls the forced air-suction
unit on the basis of a signal from the roof detecting unit and the forced
air-suction unit is operated when the roof portion is mounted to cover
the vehicle compartment space.

[0023]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the seventh aspect of the invention, when the roof detecting unit
detects that the roof portion is brought into a state that the roof
portion is mounted, the control unit controls the forced air-suction unit
to be operated on the basis of the signal outputted from the roof
detecting unit. With this, air in a space covered by the roof portion
(that is, a space in the vehicle compartment) is taken in via the air
suction part and is sent to the vehicle-mounted object installation
space.

[0024]When the vehicle is brought into the state that the roof portion is
mounted and the vehicle compartment space and the air suction part are
covered from above by the roof portion, even if the vehicle is running,
an air flow is blocked by the roof portion and is not sucked by the air
suction part. However, in this aspect, even if the roof portion is
mounted and hence the air flow cannot be introduced into the air suction
part, the mounted object can be air-cooled by the air in the space of the
vehicle compartment.

[0025]Still further, the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object according to a eighth aspect of the invention, in the sixth and
seventh aspects of the invention, includes a speed detecting unit that
detects a vehicle speed and a control unit that controls the forced
air-suction unit on the basis of a signal from the speed detecting unit
and the forced air-suction unit is operated when the vehicle speed is
smaller than a specified value.

[0026]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the eighth aspect of the invention, when the speed detecting unit
detects that the running speed of the vehicle is decreased or the vehicle
is stopped so that the running speed of the vehicle becomes smaller than
the specified value, the control unit controls the forced air-suction
unit to be operated on the basis of the signal outputted from the speed
detecting unit. With this, the air can be forcibly sent to the mounted
object installation space via the other end of the air suction part.

[0027]When the running speed of the vehicle is decreased, the speed of the
air flow is also decreased. Moreover, the air flow is generated by the
vehicle running, so that when the vehicle is stopped, the air flow is not
generated. However, in the air-cooling structure according to this aspect
of the invention, even if the vehicle running speed is decreased or the
vehicle is stopped and hence a sufficient amount of air flow cannot be
introduced into the air suction part, the air can be sent into the
mounted object installation space to air-cool the vehicle-mounted object.

[0028]Still further, the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object according to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the fifth to
eighth aspects of the invention, a foreign matter trapping channel having
a top end portion thereof open between the one end and the other end of
the air suction part such that a foreign matter sliding down along an
inclined surface of the air suction part drops into the foreign matter
trapping channel.

[0029]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the ninth aspect of the invention, since the air suction part is
inclined, the foreign matter such as a water drop coming into the air
suction part from the one end thereof slides down along the inclined
surface of the air suction part. The top end of the foreign matter
trapping channel is opened between the one end and the other end of the
air suction part, so that the foreign matter sliding down along the
inclined surface of the air suction part drops in the foreign matter
trapping channel before the foreign matter reaches the other end of the
air suction part.

[0030]Thus, the foreign matter does not reach the other end of the air
suction part or rarely reaches the other end of the air suction part.
With this, the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object can
effectively prevent foreign matter affection, for example, a water drop
or the like coming into the air suction part from the one end thereof
wets the mounted object installed in the mounted object installation
space.

[0031]Still further, the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object according to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the ninth aspect
of the invention, the top end portion of the foreign matter trapping
channel is provided at the inclined surface of the air suction part and
substantially at a position where the top end portion of the foreign
matter trapping channel does not overlap a one end portion of the air
suction part in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle.

[0032]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the tenth aspect of the invention, the top end portion of the foreign
matter trapping channel does not overlap the one end portion of the air
suction part in the upper and lower direction of the vehicle. For this
reason, the foreign matter passing through the one end portion of the air
suction part is rarely arrived at the other end side of the air suction
part instead of the top end portion of the foreign matter trapping
channel, so that the foreign matter can be surely trapped by the foreign
matter trapping channel.

[0033]Still further, the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object according to an eleventh aspect of the invention, in the first to
tenth aspects of the invention, the air suction part is provided such
that the one end thereof is opened at a portion of the vehicle
compartment space covered by the roof portion when the roof portion is
mounted.

[0034]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the eleventh aspect of the invention, when the roof portion is
mounted, that is, the vehicle compartment space is covered by the roof
portion, the one end of the air suction part is opened at the vehicle
compartment space side. For this reason, when the roof portion is
mounted, the conditioned air already cooled by a vehicle air-conditioning
device can be taken in from the one end of the air suction part. With
this, even when the roof portion is mounted, the vehicle-mounted object
placed in the mounted object installation space can be effectively
air-cooled.

[0035]Still further, as described up to this point, when the roof portion
is not mounted, the air flowing at a speed corresponding to the vehicle
running speed can be taken in from the one end of the air suction part to
effectively air-cool the vehicle-mounted object installed in the mounted
object installation space. According to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the present aspect, either in the state where
the roof portion is mounted or removed, even if the air taken in from the
one end of the air suction part is not cooled, the air can effectively
air-cool the vehicle-mounted object. Accordingly, an air cooling unit
such as an evaporator does not need to be provided.

[0036]Still further, the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted
object according to a twelfth aspect of the invention, in the first to
eleventh aspect of the invention, includes an air exhausting part one end
thereof connected to the mounted object installation space and the other
end thereof open near a position where an air flowing along the vehicle
separately from the air flow directed to the one end of the air suction
part.

[0037]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the twelfth aspect of the invention, the air introduced into the
mounted object installation space from the air suction part cools the
mounted object installation space and is exhausted from the air
exhausting part. The other end of the air exhausting part (that is, the
end portion of the air exhausting part opposite to the mounted object
installation space) is opened near a position where the air flowing along
the vehicle separately from the air flow directed to the one end of the
air suction part passes. Accordingly, the air sent to the other end of
the air exhausting part flows out into the air flowing near the other end
of the air exhausting part. In this manner, as the air in the exhaust
part is flown into the air flowing near the other end of the exhaust
part, the air exhausting part effectively exhausts the air. Thus, this
can further improve taking in the air by the air suction part and hence
cooling of the mounted object can be enhanced.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

[0038]As described above, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the first aspect of the invention, a sufficient
amount of air can be taken into the mounted object installation space to
air-cool the mounted object installed in the mounted object installation
space.

[0039]According to the air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object
of the second aspect of the invention, even when sound is produced when
the air flow is sucked into the air suction part, this sound can be
prevented from being transmitted to the mounted object installation
space. Thus, silence in the vehicle compartment space can be ensured or
enhanced.

[0040]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the third aspect of the invention, a sufficient
amount of air can be taken into the mounted object installation space to
air-cool the mounted object installed in the mounted object installation
space.

[0041]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the forth aspect of the invention, the sound
produced when the air flows into the air suction part can be prevented
from being transmitted to the occupants on the left and right side seated
positions of the seat.

[0042]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the fifth aspect of the invention, the air flow
can be made to smoothly flow from the one end to the other end of the air
suction part to increase the air flow flowing through the air suction
part. Thus, the mounted object installed in the mounted object
installation space can be further excellently air-cooled.

[0043]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the sixth aspect of the invention, when the
forced air-suction unit is operated, the air is taken in from the one end
of the air suction part. The air taken in by the forced air-suction unit
is sent to the mounted object installation space via the other end of the
air suction part. With this, even when the speed of the air flow is
decreased or the air flow is stopped, the cooling air is supplied to the
mounted object installation space and can air-cool the mounted object.

[0044]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the seventh aspect of the invention, even when
the roof portion is mounted and hence the air flow cannot be introduced
into the air suction part, the air in the vehicle compartment space can
air-cool the mounted object.

[0045]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the eighth aspect of the invention, even when
the running speed of the vehicle is decreased or the vehicle is stopped
and hence a sufficient amount of air cannot be introduced into the air
suction part, the air can be sent into the mounted object installation
space to air-cool the mounted object.

[0046]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the ninth aspect of the invention, the foreign
matter coming in from the one end side of the air suction part can be
prevented or effectively prohibited from coming into the mounted object
installation space. Thus, the mounted object installed in the mounted
object installation space can be prevented or effectively prohibited from
being affected with the foreign matter.

[0047]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the tenth aspect of the invention, the foreign
matter coming in from the one end side of the air suction part can be
further effectively prevented or prohibited from coming into the mounted
object installation space.

[0048]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the eleventh aspect of the invention,
irrespective of whether or not the roof portion is mounted, even if the
air taken in from the one end of the air suction part is not cooled, the
air can effectively air-cool the vehicle-mounted object. Thus, an air
cooling unit such as an evaporator does not need to be provided.

[0049]Still further, according to the air-cooling structure for a
vehicle-mounted object of the twelfth aspect of the invention, the effect
of exhausting the air by the air exhausting part can be enhanced, so that
the sucking of air by the air suction part can be further improved and
hence can enhance cooling the mounted object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050]FIG. 1 is a schematic side section view of a vehicle to which an
air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to a first
embodiment of the present invention is applied;

[0051]FIG. 2 is a schematic side section view of a vehicle corresponding
to FIG. 1 in a state in which a roof portion is mounted;

[0052]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view, when viewed from obliquely
rearward, of the vehicle to which the air-cooling structure according to
the first embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0053]FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view, when viewed from obliquely
forward, of the vehicle to which the air-cooling structure according to
the first embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0054]FIG. 5 is a block diagram to schematically show a construction for
controlling a blower motor; and

[0055]FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged side section view of a vehicle to
which an air-cooling structure for a vehicle-mounted object according to
a second embodiment of the invention is applied.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Construction of First Embodiment

[0056]In FIG. 1, a schematic structure of a vehicle (open car) 10 to which
a vehicle-mounted battery cooling structure as an air-cooling structure
for a vehicle-mounted object according to a first embodiment of the
present invention is shown by a side sectional view. As shown in this
drawing, in a vehicle compartment space 12 of the vehicle 10, a seat 14
is disposed along a rear end portion of the vehicle compartment space 12.
When the vehicle 10 is a so-called "two seater car" in which a driver and
a passenger can get on, this seat 14 is a driver's seat or a passenger's
seat, whereas when the seat 14 is disposed backward of the driver's seat
and the passenger's seat, the seat 14 is a rear seat. As shown in FIG. 1,
ahead rest 18 is disposed on the top side of a seat back 16 constructing
this seat 14.

[0057]As shown in FIG. 3, the head rest 18 is disposed on the left and
right portions along a width direction of the vehicle 10, respectively. A
plate-shaped air deflector 20, which constructs an air flow introducing
unit in this embodiment and is disposed in the thickness direction along
a front and rear direction of the vehicle 10, is disposed between the
head rests 18 disposed side by side in the width direction. As shown in
FIG. 4, while the vehicle 10 is running, an air flow W1 passing below the
vehicle 10, an air flow W2 flowing along the side of the vehicle 10, an
air flow W3 flowing from the top of a bonnet 22 of the vehicle 10 to the
side of the vehicle 10 via the surface of a window shield glass 24, and
an air flow W4 passing from the top of the bonnet 22 to the top of the
vehicle 10 via the surface of the window shield glass 24 flow.

[0058]Of these air flows W1 to W4, a portion or all of the air flow W3
flows, at the back of the vehicle compartment space 12, so as to be flown
inward in the width direction and forward in the front and rear direction
of the vehicle 10. Moreover, a portion or all of the air flow W4 flows,
at the back of the vehicle compartment space 12, so as to be flown
forward in the front and rear direction and downward in the upper and
lower direction of the vehicle 10. These air flows W3 and W4 flow in the
manner described above thus flow toward the vehicle compartment space 12.
These air flows W3 and W4 may disturb the hair of an occupant in the
vehicle compartment space 12 to give the occupant an unpleasant feeling.
By disposing the air deflector 20 between the left and right head rests
18 in the width direction of the vehicle 10, the above-mentioned air
flows W3, W4 are prevented from flowing into the inside of the vehicle
compartment space 12 from between the left and the right head rests 18.

[0059]Moreover, a deflector housing part (not shown) for housing the air
deflector 20 is disposed below the left and right head rests 18. The air
deflector 20 can be reciprocated by the driving force of a driving unit
such as a motor between a state in which the air deflector 20 is housed
in the deflector housing part (state shown in FIG. 2, although the
deflector housing part is not shown) and a state in which the air
deflector 20 is located between the left and right head rests 18 in the
width direction of the vehicle 10.

[0060]A trunk room 26 is disposed rearward of the vehicle compartment
space 12 of the vehicle 10. In an open state shown in FIG. 1, a folding
roof 28 as a roof portion (see FIG. 2) is housed in a folded state in the
trunk room 26 (in FIG. 1, the folding roof 28 is omitted). The trunk room
26 can be opened or closed by a driving force of a driving unit such as a
motor, and the folding roof 28 can be folded and housed and can be
developed and mounted by the same motor for opening or closing the trunk
room 26 or by a separate motor. As shown in FIG. 2, when the folding roof
28 is mounted so as to cover the top of the vehicle compartment space 12,
a limit switch 30 as a roof detecting unit shown in FIG. 5 is switched
from an OFF state to an ON state.

[0061]Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, a battery housing part 32 as a mounted
object installation space is formed between the vehicle compartment space
12 and the trunk room 26, and a battery 34 is housed (installed) in this
battery housing part 32. The battery 34 is a mounted object for driving
an electric motor for driving the vehicle 10 separately from an engine. A
bottom end (other end) of an air suction part 36 is opened at the top of
the battery housing part 34. The air suction part 36 has its top end (one
end) opened at rearward side than the bottom end (the other end) of the
air suction part 36. The top end (the one end) of the air suction part 36
opens at a position behind the air deflector 20 between the left and
right head rests 18 in the width direction of the vehicle 10 at a rear
seat backup upper garnish 38.

[0062]A blower housing part 40 is formed between the top end and the
bottom end of the air suction part 36, and an air suction blower 42 as a
forced air-suction unit is housed in this blower housing part 40. The air
suction blower 42 is rotated by the driving force of a blower motor 44
shown in FIG. 5 to take in air from a one end side of the air suction
part 36 to send the air to the other end thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the
blower motor 44 is electrically connected to an equipped battery 48 via a
driver 46 and is electrically connected to an ECU 50 as a control unit
and controls electric power to be supplied to the blower motor 44 by the
driver 46 on the basis of a blower driving signal outputted from the ECU
50.

[0063]Moreover, the ECU 50 is electrically connected to the limit switch
30 and determines whether or not the folding roof 28 is mounted on the
top of the vehicle compartment space 12 on the basis of the state of the
limit switch 30. Further, the ECU 50 is electrically connected to a
vehicle speed sensor 52 of the vehicle 10 as a vehicle speed detecting
unit and has an electric signal of a level corresponding to the running
speed of the vehicle 10 inputted thereto.

[0064]As shown in FIG. 1, one end of an air exhausting part 54 is opened
at the battery housing part 32. The other end of the air exhausting part
54 is opened at a specified position of the vehicle 10, for example, in
the trunk room 26 or in the vehicle body side or the vehicle body bottom
of the vehicle 10, and can exhaust air sent from the air suction part 36
into the battery housing part 32 to the outside of the battery housing
part 32.

Operation and Effect of First Embodiment

[0065]In this embodiment described above, while the vehicle 10 is running
in a state in which the folding roof 28 is removed, the above-mentioned
air flows W1, W2, W3, and W4 flow along the vehicle body of the vehicle
10. Of these air flows W1 to W4, a portion or all of the air flow W3
flows so as to be flown inward in the width direction and forward in the
front and rear direction of the vehicle 10 at the back of the vehicle
compartment space 12. Moreover, a portion or all of the air flow W4 flows
so as to be flown inward in the width direction and downward in the upper
and lower direction of the vehicle 10 at the back of the vehicle
compartment space 12. These air flows W3 and W4 flow in the manner
described above and flow toward the vehicle compartment space 12.

[0066]When the air deflector 20 is pulled out from the deflector housing
part to set the air deflector 20 between the left and right head rests 18
in the width direction of the vehicle 10, the air flows W3 and W4 are
interfered by the air deflector 20. With this, the air flows W3 and W4
are prevented from flowing into the vehicle compartment space 12 from
between the left and right head rests 18. In this manner, the air
deflector 20 prevents the air flows W3 and W4 from disturbing the hair of
an occupant in the vehicle compartment space 12.

[0067]The air flow W4 is interfered by the air deflector 20, thereby flows
downward of the vehicle 10. The top end of the air suction part 36 is
opened behind (rearward of) the air deflector 20, so that the air flow W4
flowing downward of the vehicle 10 flows into the interior of the air
suction part 36 from the top end thereof and passes through the interior
of the air suction part 36 and is sent into the battery housing part 32.
In this manner, the air flow W4 is sent into the battery housing part 32
and flows in the battery housing part 32, whereby the battery 34 is
cooled by the air.

[0068]As described above, the air flow W4 is the outside air and hence may
be higher in temperature in many cases than an air conditioned by an air
conditioner mounted in the vehicle (in particular, in summer). Thus, the
effect of cooling the battery 34 by the outside air is generally smaller
than the conditioned air, but in a state where the vehicle 10 is running,
the air flow W4 flows at a speed corresponding to the running speed of
the vehicle 10, so that the air flow W4 taken into the air suction part
36 is more sufficient in quantity than the conditioned air and is high in
speed. For this reason, the battery 34 can be sufficiently cooled by the
air flow W4 flowing into the battery housing part 32.

[0069]Moreover, as described above, the air flow W4 flows forward in the
front and rear direction and downward in the upper and lower direction of
the vehicle 10. The air suction part 36 is inclined in such a way that
its top end is located further rearward side than the bottom end, so that
the air suction part 36 is inclined along the direction of the air flow
W4 interfered by the air deflector 20. Therefore, the air flow W4 flowing
into the air suction part 36 from the top end part thereof flows smoothly
without being greatly interfered by the inner wall of the air suction
part 36. With this, a large amount of air flow W4 can be sent fast into
the battery housing part 32, which can enhance cooling of the battery 34
by the air flow W4.

[0070]Further, the air deflector 20 is disposed at the position between
the left and right head rests 18 in the width direction of the vehicle
10, and the position is located at an area where the air deflector 20
introduces the air flow W4 to the top end portion of the air suction part
36. Since the deflector 20 is disposed in this manner, the noise caused
when the air flow W4 is sucked into the air suction part 36 is prevented
from being transmitted to the vehicle compartment space 12. With this,
silence in the vehicle compartment space 12 can be ensured or enhanced.

[0071]When the running speed of the vehicle 10 becomes slow than a
specified value or the vehicle 10 stops, the ECU 50 outputs a driving
signal on the basis of an electric signal from the vehicle speed sensor
52 in this state. The ECU 50 starts to supply electric power to the
blower motor 44 on the basis of this driving signal, whereby the blower
motor 44 is driven.

[0072]Further, when the folding roof 28 is mounted so as to cover the top
of the vehicle compartment space 12, the limit switch 30 is switched from
the OFF state to the ON state. In this state, the ECU 50 outputs a
driving signal on the basis of the electric signal from the limit switch
30. The ECU 50 starts to supply electric power to the blower motor 44 on
the basis of this driving signal, whereby the blower motor 44 is driven.

[0073]When the blower motor 44 is driven in this manner, the air suction
blower 42 is rotated and air is taken in from the top end of the air
suction part 36 and is forcibly sent to the battery housing part 32. With
this, even if the running speed of the vehicle 10 is decreased so as to
decrease the speed of the air flow W4, the vehicle 10 is stopped, or the
folding roof 28 is mounted to cause the air flow W4 being stopped, the
cooling air is supplied to the battery housing part 32 and hence the
battery 34 can be cooled.

[0074]Still further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the folding roof 28 covers
the top of the vehicle compartment space 12, the top end of the air
suction part 36 is opened in a space covered by the folding roof 28 (that
is, within the vehicle compartment space 12). In this state, when the air
conditioner mounted in the vehicle 10 is operated, the conditioned air
the temperature of which is basically lower than the outside air flows
into the vehicle compartment space 12, and this conditioned air is taken
in from the top end portion of the air suction part 36 and is supplied to
the battery 34 to cool it. Accordingly, even if the speed of the
conditioned air flow is smaller than the speed of the air flow W4, the
conditioned air can cool the battery 34 sufficiently.

Second Embodiment

[0075]Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described. Here, in the description of this embodiment, the fundamentally
same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same
reference numerals, and the detailed description of the parts will be
omitted.

[0076]In FIG. 6, a schematic structure of a vehicle (open car) 90 to which
a vehicle-mounted battery cooling structure as an air-cooling structure
for a vehicle-mounted object according to this embodiment is shown by a
side sectional view.

[0077]As shown in this drawing, the vehicle 90 is provided with a trap
drain 92 as a foreign matter trapping channel. The trap drain 92 has its
top end portion opened in an inclined surface of the air suction part 36
between the top end portion and the bottom end portion of the air suction
part 36. Moreover, the trap drain 92 has its bottom end portion opened in
a portion other than the battery housing part 32 and the trunk room 26,
for example, in the side portion or in the bottom portion of the vehicle
body.

[0078]In a state where the folding roof 28 is housed in the trunk room 26,
the top end portion of the air suction part 36 is opened to the outside
of the vehicle compartment of the vehicle 10. Thus, a foreign matter such
as a rain drop may come into the air suction part 36 from the top end
portion thereof. Since the air suction part 36 is inclined, the foreign
matter coming into the air suction part 36 drops on the inclined surface
of the air suction part 36 and further falls slidingly on the inclined
surface. When the foreign matter sliding on the inclined surface comes to
the top end portion of the trap drain 92 in this manner, the foreign
matter does not further slide on the surface of the air suction part 36
but drops downward in the trap drain 92.

[0079]Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is extremely unlikely that the
foreign matter will reach the battery housing part 32. With this, for
example, even when the rain falls unexpectedly when the folding roof 28
is housed in the trunk room 26, it is extremely unlikely that the rain
water will attach to the battery 34. With this, it is possible to prevent
or effectively inhibit the quality of the battery 34 from being
deteriorated with the rain water. Moreover, when the top end portion of
the trap drain 92 is formed at a position closer to the top end of the
air suction part 36 than the blower housing part 40, the air suction
blower 42 and the blower motor 44 can be prevented from being spoiled by
the rain water.

[0080]Note that, when the top end portion of the trap drain 92 is opened
in the inclined surface of the air suction part 36, the position where
the top end portion of the trap drain 92 is formed is not limited to a
particular position. Instead, the trap drain 92 is formed in such a way
that the top end portion of the air suction part 36 does not overlap the
top end portion of the trap drain 92 in the upper and lower direction of
the vehicle 10. With this configuration, the foreign matter such as rain
water passing over the top end portion of the air suction part 36 does
not arrive at a lower side at the air suction part 36 than the top end
portion of the trap drain 92 before the foreign matter reaches a lower
portion of the inclined surface of the air suction part, so that the
foreign matter can be surely trapped by the trap drain 92.

[0081]Further, the position of the other end portion of the air exhausting
part 54 is not described in the respective embodiments, but when the
other end portion of the air exhausting part 54 is opened, for example,
near a position where the air flow W1 and the air flow W2 pass, the air
sent near the other end portion of the air exhausting part 54 is flown
into the air flow W1 and the air flow W2, so that the effect of
exhausting the air by the air exhausting part 54 can be enhanced. With
the improvement of exhausting in the air exhausting part 54, the air
intake by the air suction part 36 can be further increased, which can
hence enhance the effect of cooling the battery 34.

[0082]Still further, in the above-mentioned respective embodiments, the
invention is applied to the cooling of the battery 34, but an object to
be cooled according to the invention is not limited to the battery 34.
The invention is also applicable for objects that are mounted in the
vehicle 10 or 90 and need to be cooled.

[0083]Still further, in the above-mentioned respective embodiments, the
battery housing part 32 as the mounted object installation space is
formed separately from the trunk room 26.

[0084]However, the mounted object installation space does not need to be
formed separately from the trunk room 26 (that is, the trunk room 26 may
be the mounted object installation space). In other words, any spaces in
which an object to be cooled such as the battery 34 is installed are to
be the mounted object installation space.